Trujillo, Cultural Capital of Peru

The coastal city of Trujillo is as pretty as a picture. The streets are awash with warm-colored colonial facades complete with frothy white detailing and wooden balconies. Above them, the skies are almost always blue. Though this city – Peru’s second-most populous – is set amid the northern desert region, it has a distinctly European vibe, no doubt a hangover from its days as a colonial powerhouse.

Yet behind the Spanish-influenced architecture is a cultural heritage that’s as Peruvian as it gets. Not only is it within easy reach of pre-Inca archaeological sites such as Chan Chan, but it also has cultural clout of its own as the birthplace of such illustrious authors as Cesar Vallejo and Victor Raúl Haya de la Torre, and for hosting prestigious cultural events.

The high point of Trujillo’s cultural calendar is the month-long Marinera Festival, which takes place in January. The event celebrates the Marinera dance – an elegant cat-and-mouse-like courtship dance that originated here in Trujillo – with competitions drawing some of the most skillful Marinera dancers from all over the world. One version of the dance even involves the male dancer performing on the back of a Peruvian Paso horse, a specialized breed known for its elegant lateral gait.

From a vast ancient adobe city to the charming colonial center, Trujillo has so much going for it that it can be difficult to know where to begin. With a custom Trujillo tour designed by Kuoda, you can get what you want to out of this fantastic city – one that many have deemed Peru’s cultural capital.

At Kuoda Travel, all trips are custom and personally designed for you by one of our professional travel experts.  Contact us today and get your free Peru trip quote.